Teeth cleaning and polishing applicator



June 15, 1948. G. A. KEMPSTER U ,443,

TEETH CLEANING AND POLISHING APPLICATOR Fil ed Aug. 1, 1946 I v I I 11 II |K\\ \\v\\i\18/ I 14 5 10 v 2 .30 5 1 r F??? 1 w l W l i 1: (III/ll l/ll l/l /l l///////I/I///;//A

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Patented June 15, 1948 *TEETHGEEANING AND PoL snmic:

APPLICATORZ George A. Kempster, Ashland, Mass.

Application August 1, 1946, Serial No. 687,553

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an instrument to treat the teeth by cleaning and polishing them, being an improvement upon the device disclosed in my pending patent application Serial No. 616,531, filing date September 15, 1945.

The principal object of my invention is to provide such an instrument that is exceptionally well adapted to its purposes because it fits around and between the various uneven surfaces of the teeth to be cleaned and polished.

A further object is to provide such an instrument that has portions corresponding in shape to the gingival curvature and surfaces of the teeth.

Another object is to provide tines spaced at intervals corresponding to the intervals between the teeth.

A further object is to so construct said instrument that it is economical to manufacture and simple and convenient to use.

The foregoing and other objects which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction such as is disclosed by the drawings and specification. The nature of the invention is such as to render it susceptible to changes and modifications, and, therefore, I am not to be limited to said disclosure; but am entitled to all such changes therefrom as fall within the scope of my claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of my instrument.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of another form of my invention.

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the instrument shown in Figures 4 and 5.

As illustrated, my instrument has a handle I and preferably formed integral therewith is a holder portion l2 at one end. Some form of plastic or rubber composition is suitable to form said handle with said holder portion, although the latter could be formed separately and united to said handle I0.

Attached to said holder portion I2 is an applicator I4 which may be affixed mechanically or cemented or fused to said holder portion I2 or a separate joining member may be used that adheres to both. This applicator I4 is of open vessel shape having a base portion I next to and afilxed to said holder portion I2 and an endless 2 wall I6. Said applicator I4 is preferably oblongshaped.

Said applicator I4 has various portions I8 integral with each other which constitute said endless wall I6, the outer edge extremity having raised edge portions I9 and depressed edge portions preferably similar to the contour of a persons gums at the neck of his teeth.

The bodies or side area of said portions I8may be somewhat convex-shaped in top plan view whereby they curve laterally outward at their intermediate portions, as at 2|, and then inwardly where said portions I8 meet, as at 22, which construction is illustrated in said Figures 4 and 6. Since the outer surfaces of a persons teeth are irregular, it is effective and eflicient to so form said applicator I4 that in use it reaches into depressed and elevated portions which are ordinarily inaccessible, thus giving the teeth a thorough cleaning.

The base portion I5 of said applicator may also be irregular, some parts extending lower as at 25 and some higher as at 26.

By forming the wall of said vessel as described a very practical instrument is provided which has a naturalness of appearance that makes its adaptability for use on ones teeth apparent to every user of a toothbrush.

To make the cleaning and, polishing more effective I may provide said vessel with flexible tines 28 which extend from said wall I6 into the interior of said applicator I4 as shown in said Figures 4, 5 and 6. Said tines 28 terminate before reaching the central longitudinal axial line of said applicator hence they are spaced laterally from each other, thus permitting them to move freely when they contact the gums and teeth. Said tines 28 preferably extend from the points 22 where said portions I8 merge which correspond to the intervals between the teeth.

At the front end of said applicator I4 an inwardly extending thickened portion 30 is shown in said Figures 4, 5 and 6 which is especially adapted to clean and polish a single, small tooth.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the class described comprising a handle portion carrying an applicator portion in the form of an open vessel having a bottom and an upstanding endless wall, the outer side portions of such wall being in the form of the surfaces of a plurality of teeth side by side, the upper edge of each tooth portion being upwardly convex and approximating the contour of the gingival curvature.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a handle portion carrying an applicator portion in the form of an open vessel having a bottom and an upstanding endless wall, the outer side portions of such wall being in the form of the surfaces of a plurality of teeth side by side, the upper edge of each tooth portion being upwardly convex and approximating the contour of the gingival curvature, said wall having flexible tines extending inwardly. therefrom at the junctures of the adjacent toothlike wall portions, the inner extremities of said tines being spaced from each other and the lower extremities of the tines being affixed to the bottom of the applicator.

GEORGE A. KEMPSTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,818,146 Maker Aug. 11, 1931 1,910,414 Varga May 23, 1933 2,042,239 Planding May 26, 1936 2,059,914 Rosenberg Oct. 3, 1936 2,117,174 Jones May 10, 1938 2,253,210 Psiharis Aug. 19, 1941 

